The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-05-24
Once a Slave and Came to Mis-.
souri, the Year the Stars
Fell.

they had the advantage OF seeing,
and old Anderson can repeat to this
day, the early speeches of
General Smith, on the Pacific railroad
question, giving every gesture, mo-
ton and peculiar twang. He is a
little 10th about doing this since the
death of his old friend, but he has
not forgotten how by any means.
A BAzoo reporter, thinking some of
the events of the early life of the old
General might be of interest to the
general reader, accosted the old fellow
with the question, General what year
did you come to Missouri in?
Gen.-"Boss, do you remember
THE YEAR THE STARS FELL %
Reporter.-No, General. they got
the drop on me, but am told it was
In 1886.
Gen.-"Well, that's the year KUN
to Missouri in"
The General, being told what was
wanted from him, went on to state
that he was born a slave in Tennessee,
and was the property of Lucas Powell,
the grandfather of VIM. l.. Powell, of
this country, but was brought to this
county when he was 13 years old, by
Judge Thos. Joplin, who received him
as marriage right.
There was but little farming done
here then, and even this was
confined to the timber land
and bottoms. The prairies
were never touched by plow-but
used for grazing purposes. All kinds
of game abounded, and it was almost
impossible to raise sheep on account
of the wolves, which would enter the
yard adjoining the houses.
THE DEER RAN IN DRovEs,
and could be seen at any time, and
were very tame. Everybody then
lived on wild meat, and, although
there were few hogs, they were never
killed, unless they went wild in the
woods, which was not an uncommon
thing.
There were no runaway slaves In
that early day, they being generally
treated well. The prominent men of
the county at that time were Mr..
Reuben Gentry, Gen. Thompson,
Amos Fristoe, DR.. Faris, Quisenber-
ry, Watson and Clifton Wood, and
WATSON, all of whom are now dead,
but have sons yet living in the coun-
ty, and regarded as our best citizens.
Pinhook was the county seat, where
c. 81 w. Wood kept a store and Old
Tommy WATSON ran a water mill and
blacksmith shop. 1t was regarded
then as big place, particularly with
the negroes. A shooting match was
held regularly there every Saturday,
which was big attraction.
THERE WAS ONE CHURCH
then in the county. It was of the
Baptist denomination and stood on
the old OBannon place. The negroes
were allowed to 60 to church with
their masters. Another prominent
place in that day was Miller's camp
ground, where the Methodists would
hold camp meeting at least ence a
year, would 60 into camp and hold
services for two or three weeks at a
time.
In answer to a question if there
were any
INDIANS HERE THEN,
the General said "yes sab, now and
then a drove would 90
through, and the abominable
scoundrels would tear down
fences and 60 right through fields, if
their old trails happened to run
through them, for they would never
leave their old trails, but they never
did any other devilment."
Rep.-"Was there any stealing
then ?"
Gen.-.'No, sab; everybody was
honest, and if anybody did take any
thing, the people would just raise and
take the spots outn him."
The county was then inhabited by
Kentuckians and Tennesseeans. In
1843 considerable emigration began
to set in, and the county rapidly i'm
proved. A good field hand was then
worth 81 900 to 81, 800, and were in
demand.
As the Generals history was grow
ing a little dull, we asked him if he
had had any adventures during the
war. He said yes, "when Todd's men
KUN h'yer 1 had an orful time, sab
was working for Mr.. VIM. Wear, of
Otterville, cleaning up the store, and
SIGH, and when / got up in de mornin'
1 saw a big smoke out toward the